The Mob Museum

Dennis Barrie, PhD

Director of Cultural and Interpretive Planning

WESTLAKE REED LESKOSKY ARCHITECTS

Dr. Barrie is an internationally distinguished museum director, historian and expert in the development of cultural projects. Since 1993, he has focused much of his work on conceptualizing and developing projects, both non-profit and for-profit, that are designed to have a positive transformative impact on their surroundings. His museum career includes 11 years with the Smithsonian Institution as midwest director of the Archives of American Art. For eight years he served as director of the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, the second oldest museum of contemporary art in the United States. As the opening executive director of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Dr. Barrie directed the project during its key phase. Today, The Rock Hall is recognized as one of the nation’s most innovative museums.

In 1996 Dr. Barrie formed Barrie Consulting, a firm that focused on the development of new museum and cultural projects for clients such as the Walt Disney Company, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville and the Experience Music Project in Seattle. As president of The Malrite Company, which he joined in 1998, Dr. Barrie worked to develop new and creative concepts for cultural projects including the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This pioneering integration of popular culture, new technology and serious history has won numerous awards, has been visited by over 5 million people during its first 7 years of operation and has played a critical role in the revitalization of downtown Washington.

In 2005, Dr Barrie left The Malrite Company to become director of cultural and interpretive planning for the architectural firm of Westlake Reed Leskosky (WRL), designers of cultural facilities across the country. At the same time, Barrie formed Barrie Projects with his wife and partner, Kathleen Barrie, to provide development services to museums,planning for cultural facilities and neighborhoods and the implementation of cultural projects designed to promote economic growth and development. Dr. Barrie leads the WRL team that is spearheading the creation of The Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement (The Mob Museum), a $42 million project that is part of the city’s current downtown redevelopment plan.

For more information, visit www.wrldesign.com or call 202.296.4344.